Process for manufacturing indurated fiber.



No. 897,758. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

- I. W. MARSHALL.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INDURATED FIBER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1907.

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PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INDURATED FIBER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1907.

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Tum/Mom No. 897,758. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

I. W. MARSHALL.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INDURATED FIBER. APPLICATION FILED 001. a, 1907.

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PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INDURATED FIBER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1907.

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I. W. MARSHALL.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INDURAT-ED FIBER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1907.

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No. 897,768. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

- I. W. MARSHALL.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INDURATED FIBER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1907.

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UNITED s'rA Es ATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL W; MARSHALL, OF YORKLYN, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS MARSHALL, OFYORKLYN, DELAWARE.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING TNDURATED FIBER.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed October-8, 1907. Serial No. 396,404.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISRAEL W. MARSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yorklyn, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Manufacturing Indurated Fiber, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to improvements in processes for the manufacture of indurated or vulcanized fiber, and has for its objects: First, in methods or processes whereby such material maybe produced in sheets equal. in width tothe capacity of the machine, and of a length limited only by the supply of material. Second, in processes whereby the manufacture of such material may continue uninterruptedly, for an indefinite period, and in which the roduct is thoroughly homogeneous and of like density in all parts of the. sheet. Third, in rocesses whereby all waste of material used in coalescing and combining the several sheets comprising its ultimate thickness, is prevented, the same being conserved for further use.

With these objects in view my invention consists inpeculiar processes and uses of certain means and mechanisms illustrated in the annexed drawings, formingpart of these s ecifications, and in which'have' been used similar characters of reference on all similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view showing the course taken by the sheets, constituting:

the fiber from the rolls, past the combining cylinders. same, indicating the passage taken in cooling and washing' Fig. 3, is a'further contin nation through the final heating rolls. manner its passage through the calendering rolls to the complete'product ready for removal. Fig. 5 ,is a plan view of thewashing washing and tank and piping system. Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the same, including the pum ing arrangements. Fig. 7, is a plan view 0 the drive. Fig. 8, is a continuation of the same. Fig. 9, is a side elevation of a single train unit of the driving means. Fig. 10, is a duplicate view but showing the chain disengaged. Fig. 11, is a lan view of the same. Fig. 12, is a partial si e elevation and section of a portion of one tank, and its superstructure. Fig. 13, is a transverse vertical sec- Fig. 2, is a continuation of the Fig. 4, shows. in a similar,

tion of'the same. Fig. 14, is a side elevation of the submerging roll controlling means.

Fig. 15, is a front elevation of a'pair of the roll controlling means. Fig. 16, is a side-elevation of the sheet immersing or combining machine. Fig. 17, is a detail of the immersing means, and, Fig. 18, is a detail of the scraper.

Itis necessary in my process to treat the sheets of paper with a chemical solution acting on the vegetable matter of which they are comprised, to partially gelatinize or alb-umenize the fibers that they may coalesce and adhere under subsequent operations and become indissolubly united into a single sheet of fiber; this is accomplished as follows 1 As many of the rolls of paper as are needed to make the finished fiber of desired thi'ckness are placed on the combining machine shown in Fi .16, the rolls being supported on. suitable rafts resting in open bearings 1, formed on the frame 2 of the machine and so arranged that each sheet may be unrolled without interfering with the others. These sheets all pass under the common roll 3, over the separating rolls 4, removably mounted in the stand 5, to the submerging rolls 6 and 7, res ectively, each pair being so arranged as to Keep the sheets out, of contact with each other or from any -art of'tank 8, in which they are located; t ese rolls are suspended from levers 9 and 10, in such manner that they may be raised entirely free from-and above the tank 8, by drawing down the lever 9; both levers being fulcrumed on top of the tank as at 1 1' and 12, and operated by the chain 13, the same being wound. on the shaft 14, provided with a suitable ratchet device 15, and hand wheel 16. This arrangement provides for the ready disposal or removalof the paper; sheets on the submerging rolls without disturbing the contents of the tank 8, which is filled partially with a solution of zinc chlorid, kept at a strength, as indicated by a hydrometer, of 70 and 71 Baum, and

. at a temperature of between 70and 75 Fahrenheit. Y

The action of the zinc solutionis to partially gelatinize or albumenize the vegetable fibers, causing them to coalesce and adhere according to'the more or less perfect saturation given them.

' Excess liquor is removed from the several stander 19, overt combined sheets as they pass over the edges of the s uare scra ers 17 and 18, set in the R16 tank 8, and ap lied respectively to the lower and upper s1 e of the s eet, on its assage to the drying and combining cylin ers 20 and 21; the latter and larger cylinder is set in fixed bearings 22, on

the frame of the machine, at the front end,

and is supplied with steam to maintain a temperature of approximately 90 degrees.

T e upper cylinder 20, is maintained in bearings 22, movable on the frame portion 23, and is provided with a chain 24, which ma be wound on the shaft 25, through the action of the gear 26, worm 27, shaft 28 and hand-wheel 29, as indicated, the purpose being to provide means for elevating the cylin-' der 20, at such times as may bc'desirable, as

in the insertion of a new sheet.'

Normally the cylinder 20 rests its weight on the fiber disposed between it and the lower cylinder 21; it is also provided with means for steam entrancenot shownand the temperature is maintained at about 180 degrees, or twice that of the lower cylinder; the heat and pressure resulting in effectually combining the several previously treated sheets into a single sheet of fiber. From these cylinders the sheet asses over an'ex tended series of rollers, a lowing the air to have full access on both sides, ina manner curing, coolingand drying the same during the" exposure, which is of from eight to ten minutes duration, its travel being at the rate of eight to'twenty feet er minute, according to" the thickness of the, her, while the length 5 of its course approximates 106 feet. The

' foregoing aeration is of the utmost impor- I tan contents of an tance as without it the product is ractically worthless. The fiber sheet is th duced into a series of separate tanks A, B, C, and D, in the first of which much of the zinc en f introsolution is retained, soihein the second, less in the third and scarcely a tracein the fourth and last the approximate percentage being res ectively'15%,- 7%, 2% and 0%. These are so connected by piping that the tank refilled from any other tank or with fresh water. The usual procedure being at the beginning of each days run to empty 'tank A, through thepipe 40, into the vat 41,

' below the floor, th rough gravity-by opening the valve 42, and .having the valves 43,

44 and 45 closed; thereupon opening valves 46 and, 51, having valves 47, 48 and 49, closed as must also be valves 50, 52 and 53, then starting the pum 55,'resulting in transferring the contents 0 tank B, to tank A, and proceeding in a similar manner with the others, finall filling tank D, with fresh water. Thus a the sedimentation and chlorinated zinc are removed to the first tank to receive the freshly treated fiber, the strong sotion;

one can be removed and the' being lution being emptied into the vat 41, even-,

tually taken from thence by the pump 56,

and discharged through the pipe 57, to a lead lined condensing vatnot' shownwhere the solution is condensed by :ev'aporation: to the proper degree, (66 to' 67, Baum, when hot), reac y for use again and allowing of little or no waste of material, the zinc solution being entirely reclaimed. From these tanks the sheet'is conducted between a pair of squeezing rollers to remove excess liquid and through a su plementary soaking bath, kept supplied clear water, and in which the fiber may be retained indefinitely, thus plete removal of all traces of the zinc solution, lack of which leads to an imperfect product, unsuitable particularly for electrical urposes. The enormous shrinkage that ta es place, which amounts to over ten per cent. in width and even a greater percentage in thickness. 1

The method of obtaining the exposure has been described, as, has the means used in supplying the Washing'tanks with water; it now remains to consider the means for submerging the sheet in the bath tanks A, B, C, and

D, over which the sheet travelsin its aera- ()n'its return passage the sheet is turned again over the tank A, and allowed to rest-on the rolls 60, held in bearings 61, at tached to the top of thetanks on its side edges. W hen the front end of the sheet has reached the extreme end of the tank, the roll 62, is lowered by means of the vertical shaft 63, normally contained in the fixed tube 64, attached to a suitable support as indicated in Figs. 12, 13; 14, and 15; the lower ends of the several tubes 64, are interconnected by suitable brace members 65 and 66, attached to the sockets 67} which have bearings'for the shaft 68, transversely of the tank and on which are mounteds ur gears 69, adapted to engage with the rac teeth, cut in the side of the vertically sliding shaft 63, the same rovided 'th bearings. 63, for the ends 0 the roll 6? I A handle 70, is providedwith which to operate the transverse shaft 68, and transmit motion uniformly to the roll through the pair of vertical shafts to which it is connected. This handle is preferably operated in. V

such manner as to cause the roll 62, to descend just sufiiciently fast to take up the slack in the on-coming sheet of fiber, keeping it reasonably taut until the roll has reached the end of its downward travel, whereupon the handle is transferred to the next transverse shaft and the second roll lowered in a similar manner, thus the tank A, will be filled to its capacity before any of the fiber enters the succeeding tanks and hence most of the adhering solution of zinc chlorid removed and retained in the tank A.-

Figs. 7 and 8, indicate the driving means as a plied to the entire construction, the whee 80, being adapted to receive the driving belt from the engine or other prime motor used; this wheel is secured on the shaft 81, having the bevel gear 82, and beyond the bearingsindieated conventionally-a sprocket wheel 83, on which isa link belt 84, running over an idle wheel 85; between these are located the driven wheel 86, communicating motions to the last of the series of stationary rolls 60, on the tank A. The distance between the centers of the wheels 83 and 85, and the slackness of the driving chain is such that it is easily possible to raise the chain out of en agement with the cogs on the driven whee 86, letting it run free alongside of it, thereby stopping the rolls on the tank from rotating completely but without interfering with the drive on the succeeding tank rolls and to which power is communicated by the idle wheel 85, which isidle only so far as tank A, is concerned, acting as an intermediate for the following tank rolls. This effect can be realized from an inspection of Figs. 9, 10 and 1.1, which show clearly another result attained by the use of a comparatively long and slack chain belt, 6., that of the chain riding up and over the cogs in the driven wheel, at such time as it ceases to rotate for any cause, thus preventing tearing asunder the wet fiber or doing other in'ury to it or the mechanism. Use is also ma e of the same driving method in all the following tank r0 1 devices as indicated.

Engaging with the bevel gear 82, is a similar gear 87, on the shaft 88, carrying the coned friction roll 89, working in connection with its mate 90, secured on the main shaft 91, in such manner that the relative speed may, be increased or diminished at will. Other speed changing cones of similar nature are used at the combining machine, the drying rolls and calendering rolls, between the main shaft and the transverse counter, or

driving shafts, as re uired, a's obviously the,

relative speed of eac machine or roll must be timed with absolute accuracy to compensate for the shrinkage of the product as it occurs or damage results.

In the manufacture of indurated fiber of over a certain thickness, I may prefer to change the exact methods of operation, as

hereinbefore described and which are particularly applicable to comparatively thin sheets travehng'conti'nuously from the paper rolls to the finished product. These changes consist merely in the more extended use of the soaking tank wherein the sheets may remain an indefinite length of time, depending on their thickness, the object being to remove every possible trace of the chemical used in coalescing the sheets, except such as has become syntheticallyincorporated in the fiber, and I may prefer to use such soaking baths altogether in place of the tanks herein noted.

Having thus described my process, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of making indurated fiber, consisting of subjecting a plurality of vegetable paper sheets to the action of a chemical consisting of subjecting a plurality of veg'etable fiber sheets to a bath contaimng a solu- 'tion having the property of causing a chem .ical change, to take place in said vegetable fiber whereby a union of the sheets may be effected, substantially uniting said sheets by heat under moderate pressure, cooling and air curing, followed by re eated washing and soaking until no trace 0 the chemical used can be detected and the final passage of the united fiber sheet through drying rolls and calender rolls, all substantially as shown and described;

3. Theprocess of continuousl making indurated fiber, consisting of com ining a plurality of sheets made of vegetable matter and having a relatively soft, porous texture,- b saturating them each independently wit zinc chlorid, removing the excess, immediately pressing the sheets in intimate contact between heated cylinders, the upper of which is maintained at twice the temperature they may become integrally incorporated" into a single sheet, immediately subjecting the sheet to moderate pressure between l i v eemse heated cylinders,- exposing-the sheet'in the In testimony whereof I have signed my air until cool and practically dry, washing name to this specification, in the presenceof 10 ang soaking tldie sfheet in 3 watef loath, an intwo subscribing witnesses. de nite erio 0 time, c enc ent u on its 5 thickness, until the chemical soluti n has ISRAEL MARSHALL been removed except that which has become Witnesses: synthetically incorporated in the sheet, and WARREN E. WILLIS, finishing the said sheet as usual. CHAs. E. Por'rs. 

